Read anything good lately?

•January 20, 2010 • Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a good book.  Reading a good book should do something to you.  It should enthral you, transport you to another place, teach you – or even challenge you.  It should certainly make you think.

Two of today’s readings take us to reading – specifically the reading of God’s word.

In Nehemiah the people have settled in their towns.  They have returned from exile and returned to Jerusalem and Judah (7:6), and they are gathering in Jerusalem.  The first thing they do is turn to God.  It was the people who ask Ezra to go and get the book of the law.  Ezra returns with it, and reads it to them.  As soon as he opens the book, the people praise God, and kneel in worship.  Opening the book of God’s law causes them to respond.  It is not a dull lifeless book, or even an interesting read.  They experience and acknowledge it as the word of God, and it moves them to worship and praise.  If we read further into the book of Nehemiah, their response goes to celebrate the Festival of Shelters and to confess their sins.  The word of God doesn’t just instruct them, it moves them to act.

In the reading from Luke, Jesus is back in Galilee, and as he teaches in the synagogues the people respond to him – everyone praises him.  In the Synagogue at Nazareth he is handed the scroll with the reading from Isaiah 61:1,2.  ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.  He has chosen me…’  He tells them that here, now, in their presence this reading is coming true – he is that one.

They are challenged to respond to what they hear from God’s word.  This is it.  The one God was sending is here – what will they do?

Further on in this chapter we see exactly what their response is – and it’s not a good one – but respond they have to.

You cannot hear what God has to say and do nothing.  Impassivity to God is not possible.  You hear his word and you cannot stay the same.  Decisions have to be made.

So this gives us two pointers:

  • We should take the time to read and listen to God’s word
  • We need to respond to it in our lives today

So lets spend time with God’s word, and not just out of interest, but to let it speak to us, challenge us, comfort us, reveal to us who God is.

By the way, Animal’s People by Indra Sinha is a very good read!

Posted in bible, Lectionary
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Have you got the missing peice?

•January 13, 2010 • 1 Comment

We’re iced in our road this morning.  We’ve been snowed in for days, but now it’s turned to thick sheet ice, and even those who had managed to get out some of those days are getting nowhere today.  We tried it… very bad idea…

But what this weather had done, is brought out the community spirit.  And everyone has done their bit to help.  Some have been able to shovel the snow, others have pushed cars, whilst I offered hot drinks to those digging.  There was a brilliant piece of team work and neighbourliness yesterday when three men went out at the same time, pushed the first one to the top of the hill, who then stopped, and came back to push the next, who stopped and all came back to push the third – so they all got on their way.

Today on the ice people were trying to salt what they can (to no avail!), someone lent their drive for someone to get a run up their drive, and I brought news of the conditions on the other side of the hill.  We’re all pulling together, offering what we can to build a community that’s helping each other.

This is, I think an example of what is meant in this weeks lectionary readings.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 reminds us that we all have different gifts, all from the Holy Spirit.  We have different ways we can serve, but all those are serving the Lord.  The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all (v7). We all have some gift, some part of the Spirit’s presence in the world.  Going back to the Covenant Service, there is some task God has given each of us to do.  Some part we can play that no one else can, a unique gift God has given to us.  If we don’t share that, if we don’t play our part, then the world is lacking.

I enjoy doing jigsaws and it is so annoying when you find that a piece is missing.  It may only be one piece, but it completes the picture.  With it’s lumps and bumps it plays it’s part – and without it the picture is not complete and doesn’t hold together properly.

Whoever we are, we have something to bring.  I love the gospel reading from John 2:1-11.  Jesus made some fabulous wine.  Was it in glorious ornate precious wine flagons?  Was it presented with a flourish?  No it was in the stone jars that held the water for washing feet.  You might have missed it, or dismissed it because of it’s container.  God is not worried about containers, but about contents.

Both in ourselves and in others, let’s not miss the gifts that God has given.  Everyone has something special, unique and precious.  Everyone is loved and chosen by God, and given their task.  Lets share what we have, and allow others to share their gifts, that the world might be complete – and reflect the whole picture of God.

Posted in Lectionary
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Known and loved

•January 7, 2010 • Leave a Comment

This weeks Old Testament passage is one of the most beautiful in the Bible, so I’m going to quote it in full:

God Promises to Rescue his People

Isaiah 43:1-7

Israel, the Lord who created you says,
“Do not be afraid — I will save you.
I have called you by name — you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;
your troubles will not overwhelm you.
When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt;
the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the holy God of Israel, who saves you.
I will give up Egypt to set you free;
I will give up Ethiopia and Seba.
I will give up whole nations to save your life,
because you are precious to me
and because I love you and give you honour.
Do not be afraid — I am with you!

“From the distant east and the farthest west,
I will bring your people home.
I will tell the north to let them go
and the south not to hold them back.
Let my people return from distant lands,
from every part of the world.
They are my own people,
and I created them to bring me glory.”
© 1994 British & Foreign Bible Society

Wow!

Names are very important to us.  We spend a long time thinking what we are going to call a baby; knowing someone’s name shows a certain level of relationship; remembering someone’s name shows you care; getting someone’s name wrong is quite a faux-pas.

God knows us by name, and he cares for us.  We are indeed his.  He knows not just our name, but everything about us.  He loves us, we are precious to him.  And because of that he is always with us, in whatever circumstances our lives take us.

Perhaps one of the most important things about these verses is that they don’t say, “God loves you, so life will be hunky-dory”. It acknowledges that there will be deep waters, troubles, fire and hard trials – but in all that God is with us.

This passage was written at a time when Jerusalem had been destroyed and many of the people were in exile – so they knew what they were talking about – but still lived in faith and hope of the God who loved them.

God doesn’t abandon us when life is tough – he travels with us.  However deep the water, God’s love is deeper.   We are never alone, God is with us.  We can cling to him, for he will never fail us.  We are precious to God and he loves us.  Simplistic – maybe – but profound and true.

So, wherever you are and whatever you are going through, know God’s love, care and support for you this day, in your situation.  Let him hold tight.  Rest secure in his love and his presence and feel his peace.

Posted in God, love
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